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Saturday, June 30, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: Starting July 1, all food outlet operators who are still using and displaying halal logo not issued by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) or State Religious Council (MAIN), will be liable to a fine and imprisonment.

Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha said a corporate organisation still using the halal logo from other sources could be fined with an amount not exceeding RM200,000 for the first offence and not exceeding RM500,000 for the second or subsequent offence.

For a non-organisation, a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or a maximum jail term of three years, or both, can be imposed upon conviction, he said in a statement here Friday.

He said for a second or subsequent offence, they could be fined an amount not exceeding RM250,000 or maximum jail term of five years, or both, upon conviction.

"Starting Sunday, Jakim will not hesitate to take action against food outlets and premises which do not have Jakim or MAIN halal logo," he said.

Othman also reminded the food outlet operators that the usage of halal logo or words like 'ditanggung halal' (halal assured), 'Muslim food', 'Ramadan buffet', as well as symbols that could confuse the Muslims, was prohibited as stipulated under the Trade Descriptions (Definition of Halal) Order 2011, which had taken effect since Jan 1, this year.

He also called on members of the public with information about the abuse of halal logo to lodge a report to Jakim to enable further action be taken. - Bernama